Fabrication of Sustainable Bricks:Integrating Plastic Waste, QuarryDust, and M-Sand

Abstract

The rising demand for traditional building  materials has exposed a notable disparity between their  supply and demand. Concurrently, the disposal challenge  posed by waste plastics like PET and PP is intensifying,  given that only a small fraction of PET bottles are recycled.  Additionally, despite the ubiquity of laterite quarry waste,  its potential remains largely untapped India, where each  person produces an average of 0.5 grams of plastic waste  daily, has been delving into the feasibility of creating  sustainable bricks from plastic waste, quarry dust, and M sand (manufactured sand). This innovative approach seeks  to leverage the durability of plastics in a circular economy,  promoting their reuse after their primary lifecycle, thereby  ensuring minimal environmental impact while generating  financial value. Results from the study indicate that  incorporating plastic waste, quarry dust, and M-sand in  brick manufacturing enhances the brick's strength and  density while reducing water absorption. Bricks composed  of 20% plastic waste, combined with 10% each of quarry  dust and M-sand, demonstrated optimal characteristics.  These bricks rival traditional red bricks in terms of neat  finish, water absorption, and compressive strength. In high altitude regions lacking efficient waste disposal systems,  accumulating non-degradable plastic waste becomes not  only an eyesore but also an environmental hazard. By  converting this waste into high-strength bricks, which offer  sound and thermal insulation benefits, we not only curb  plastic pollution but also reduce the overall construction  costs. This approach also alleviates the need for sand  extraction from vital riverbeds. These waste-derived bricks  present a promising alternative to conventional building  materials. Still, more research is essential to assess the  bricks' long-term resilience under different environmental  conditions and to evaluate the feasibility of scaling up their  production. In essence, integrating plastic waste in brick  manufacturing offers a sustainable solution to meet the  construction industry's demands and manage plastic waste  effectively.